Last Updated on December 21, 2025 by Ariana Svenson
Thinking of a stay at Refugio Amazonas? Here’s our full review!
Refugio Amazonas Lodge is a 32-bedroom jungle lodge located within 200 hectares of private reserve in Tambopata National Reserve.
All the cabins open up to the forest, so you can have a truly immersive Peruvian Amazon experience. At night, the sounds of the jungle create a magical soundtrack that makes it impossible not to feel a deep connection to nature.
Refugio Amazonas was my first choice when it came to taking my own family to the Peruvian Amazon, and after years of working with jungle tour operators, this choice was based on a plethora of feedback and experiences.
I deeply admire the Rainforest Expeditions philosophy and approach to jungle experiences, mirroring my own feelings about quality over quantity, and enabling people the privilege of getting away from the crowds.
It’s perfect for families, too. It even has a custom-built children’s area. The lodge is also an ideal stay if you’re a solo traveler, couple, or group of friends who want to experience an Amazon jungle lodge stay in Peru, even if you’re short on time.
Your visit will have a direct impact on conservation efforts, as Refugio del Amazonas lodge is the headquarters of the WIRED project – a hands-on citizen-science program run by Rainforest Expeditions. You can check camera traps, spot species, or even assist with insect discoveries alongside real researchers. The project works closely with the Ese Eja community, with every activity feeding directly into conservation and local livelihoods.
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Where is the Refugio Amazonas?
The lodge is located in Southeastern Peru, in the Tambopata region of the Madre de Dios Department.
How to Get from Puerto Maldonado to Refugio Amazonas
At Refugio Amazona, each group is allocated a private guide who accompanies them from the airport, throughout their trip, and then returns to the airport with them. It takes a one-hour road trip, followed by a one-hour boat trip to get to the lodge.
After being collected from Puerto Maldonado airport, just outside the city of Puerto Maldonado, you are transferred to the Rainforest Expeditions welcome center. It is complete with lounges, a café, and a small shop. Here, you will meet your guide and have the opportunity to pack a smaller bag for the jungle. They are called duffel bags, and they are waterproof and easy to carry.
Large bags and suitcases are left in storage in the Rainforest Expeditions office.
From the welcome center, you will have a 1.5-hour bus ride on the Interoceanica road towards Cusco. The bus is air-conditioned and comfortable as you pass through farmland and then more jungle areas. At the Filadelphia Port, you will get your first glimpse of the large Tambopata River and your river transportation.
Another thing to check with your Peruvian Amazon tour operator is which port they travel from; many companies depart from the Tambopata River port, while others use the Infierno River port. With some companies, you might spend a lot of time on the boat as the river loops around like a snake, doubling back on itself. This means that even if you are just four hours from the port by boat, you could still be relatively close to town.
One thing we especially liked about Rainforest Expeditions’ tours was that you traveled by comfortable air-conditioned bus to the Filadelfia River port. This allowed us to go much deeper into the jungle without spending excessively long hours on the boat.
45-Minute Boat Ride
Once you board your boat, you must put on lifejackets and make your way downriver to Refugio Amazonas, a 45-minute boat ride. If you are staying at the Tambopata Research Center, you also board the boat here, but have several hours of travel upriver in the opposite direction.
While on the boat, you are treated to a small basket of snacks for lunch. We even got to see capybaras, ticking off one of our goals of the trip!
On arrival at Refugio Amazonas Lodge, there are quite a few steep steps, followed by a short 15-minute hike along a rainforest trail through the jungle to the lodge itself. You will enter one of the common areas, where your guide gives you a briefing about the Refugio Amazona’s “a la carte” menu of activities – more about these later.
This lodge was chosen for its wide variety of kid-friendly activities, making it one of the best Amazon rainforest resorts. It certainly ranks among the top Amazon lodges in Peru.
Our Refugio Amazonas Review: The Perfect Family Adventure in the Amazon Jungle
Staying at Refugio Amazonas Lodge gave us an authentic taste of the Amazon rainforest while keeping it easy and fun for the whole family, especially the kids.
We spent our days exploring trails, spotting incredible wildlife, and discovering the rainforest in ways the children really enjoyed. By the end of our stay, it was clear why this lodge is such a popular choice for families.
The Rooms
I have one word for the accommodation at Refugio Amazonas Lodge – WOW! The lodge is built from a combination of traditional native materials, and its entire roof is covered with palm fronds. There are four wings of eight rooms connected by a wooden boardwalk.
We stayed in the suite, which comfortably accommodated the five of us in two king-size beds. The king-size bed was so comfortable.
With one open side of the rooms, I was a little worried that the younger kids (especially the neurodiverse one) would freak out at the open-sided room. But they didn’t! In fact, they loved the open side, the hammock, and sleeping under the mosquito net curtains.
The side that looks out to the forest has no wall or screening of any kind, serving as a large window. Mosquitoes are not really a problem around the lodge clearing, which allows this “luxurious” open design.
A second small window on the opposite side, set very high, keeps the rooms well ventilated, and doors are replaced with drapes. Rooms are not soundproof, but the open section allows for intimate contact with the rainforest.
Our room included a private bathroom, a ceiling fan, and an open wall facing out towards the Peruvian Amazon on the opposite side. With 24-hour electricity (and Wi-Fi) and hot water in the rooms, we really did not feel like there was any hardship staying in the jungle. It was quite a luxurious oasis for nature lovers, a modern-day ecolodge technology.
Food at Refugio Amazonas Lodge: Peruvian and International Cuisine
Like the other lodges offered by Rainforest Expeditions, Refugio Amazonas Lodge has a large dining room offering you breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as unlimited amounts of coffee, tea, fresh juices, and overflowing bowls of fresh fruits.
We loved the wonderful mix of Peruvian dishes and international cuisine served up during the buffet – absolutely delicious. Each meal came with a range of fruit juices. The lodge coped extremely well with my son’s very unique special dietary requirements.
A la Carte Rainforest Jungle Activities at Refugio Amazonas Lodge
During our 3 days and 2 nights, we did the following activities:
Sunset on top of the Rainforest Canopy Tower – WOW!!!
Located a short walk through the jungle, the tower is 32 metres high. You will feel every step up. It’s a narrow tower with limited capacity, and if you have a fear of heights or vertigo, then it’s not recommended for you. We loved the climb up (though it was a bit of a challenge) and watched the sunset over the jungle from the top. You’ll have spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest from above!
It’s a great spot to watch birds! You can also watch the macaws and parrots heading home. Many people have the chance to see mixed species canopy flocks, toucans, and more! You may even hear the powerful roars of the red howler monkey rumbling through the forest.
Famous Macaw Clay Licks
With a 4:30 AM start from the lodge, this might not be your idea of a kid-friendly activity. I’ll admit that when the guide, my 13-year-old, and I were carrying a sleeping 4.5-year-old along a rough jungle path in the dark, I wasn’t convinced we had made the right choice.
But … once on the boat, my 9-year-old and 4.5-year-old fell asleep on the floor (wrapped in blankets) and were asleep through to when the boat arrived at the clay lick some 2.5 hours later. And wow – the sunrise over the river was so worth it!
I love the feeling of travelling upriver on Amazon tributaries, it’s amazing to see the jungle! On arrival at the clay lick, there were plenty of other companies there, but our guide found us a quiet spot with a telescope. Having no idea of what to expect, we thought that the macaws and parrots were a long way away, on the other side of the river. However, once we got used to the telescope and binoculars – wow, what a view!
That said, my two younger kids looked through the telescope for a total of 5 minutes before they thought it was more fun to collect rocks and throw them into the river for the rest of the time! Our teenager thought that it was a truly incredible experience. The trip back, another 2.5 hours along the river, was also quite a long trip for the little ones.
Keep in mind also that, depending on which lodge you choose, different activities are available. One of the lodges offers a tour to the parrot clay lick instead of the macaw clay lick.
If We Had More Time
Even though our stay at Refugio Amazonas Lodge was packed with adventure, we still wished we had more time for a few activities. There are just so many activities to try in the lodge and the surrounding rainforest.
Children’s Activities
Refugio Amazonas Lodge has a playground with a swing, rope climbing tower, and a very steep slide. This will keep kids occupied for a while. Plus, they have a dedicated children’s space with a whole lot of activities. I understand that what you do depends a bit on your guide. We did necklace making with beads and natural fruit tattoo art. Other kids were wandering around with bows. 😊
Visit to Oxbow Lake (Lake Condenado)
This gorgeous jungle activity can be combined with viewing the animal cameras, as the route is the same as for the canopy tower. It’s about an hour’s walk through the jungle to the lake, and well worth the sweat. Our 4.5-year-old managed about half the walk, and the rest of the time she was carried by me or the guide.
Paddling around on the perfectly calm lake, we saw Hoatzin Birds and parrots returning home overhead, as well as Caimans in the reeds. The highlight, however, was “fishing for piranhas”. In reality, this meant putting some bread on the end of a stick and seeing the fish jump for the bread … but the kids loved it!
Visit the Brazil Nut Forest
Here, you can visit a working jungle farm and a real Brazil nut concession. You’ll see a beautiful old-growth patch of Brazil nut forest and the remains of the camp that are used for two months of the year by Brazil Nut gatherers. You’ll learn all about this sustainably harvested product from transport to drying.
If we had had more time, we would have…
Learnt more about the Amazonian crops and agriculture in the area.
Had a sleep in 😊 listening to the sounds of the surrounding jungle.
Attended the evening lectures on the Citizen Science projects, Wired Amazon.
Done the Sunset Cruise.
Done a night walk, night tours, or attend night lectures.
Visited the Amazon Farm (Chacra) and learned more about the medicinal plants of the jungle.
Tried the Overlook Walk – a 2km trail where you learn the difference between the terra firme forest and secondary forest.
Had the chance to spot even more wildlife. The area is home to blue-headed parrots, horned screamers, blue-headed pionus, toucans, and thousands more incredible species!
The Importance of Having a Kid-Friendly Guide
Obviously, I can‘t speak for other jungle lodges in Peru, but Refugio Amazonas Lodge has a lot of kids. While we were there, there were three other families with children of a similar age to ours (under 10), and another family with teenagers. With a good number of families, the guides are really experienced with kids. It shows in the little tricks and ideas that they have up their sleeve!
Our neurodivergent son was always going to be different when it came to the jungle. We started off the trip with 5 days and 4 nights in the jungle, as he was so enthusiastic about everything. During our time in Central America, he developed a deep fear of mosquitoes and, as a result, shortened our trip from 5 days to 3.
Our poor guide mentioned mosquitoes in the first 3 minutes of our time in the jungle, sending my son into his first meltdown (of several). However, to his credit, the guide listened to my advice and suggestions and adapted very quickly. I was impressed.
How Long to Stay?
We stayed at Refugio Amazonas Lodge for 2 nights and 3 days. If you can, we would highly recommend staying 3 nights and 4 days for a more relaxed and rounded experience. We certainly could have spent more time exploring the Peruvian Amazon and the surrounding national parks.
Best Time to Visit and Weather
When planning a stay at Refugio Amazonas Lodge, it helps to know what the weather is like throughout the year so you can choose the trip that suits you best.
The Amazon has two main seasons: the dry season (roughly May to October) and the wet season (November to April). Both are great times to visit. It really comes down to the kind of experience you want from your Refugio Amazonas Peru adventure.
During the dry season, trails are easier to walk, Amazon wildlife sightings are more frequent, and activities on your Refugio Amazonas tour generally run without interruption. For me, this is the perfect time for a family vacation in Peru.
On the other hand, the wet season brings heavier rain, but the rainforest feels even more lush and alive, and river levels are higher, which can make boat travel smoother.
Since the Amazon has its own unique climate and terrain, it’s worth checking our Peru packing list so you will have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
How to Book
There are several ways to book your stay at Refugio Amazonas Lodge. You can reserve directly through the Rainforest Expeditions website, which gives you updated information on rooms, availability, and tour options.
Another option is to book through trusted sites. View Refugio Amazonas on Booking.com here and compare prices with Agoda here.
You can also book Refugio Amazonas via Apus Peru. Some Apus Peru tours include a visit to the Amazon and a relaxing stay at a jungle lodge.
Apus Peru is a boutique tour operator based in Cusco Peru that can combine all your activities seamlessly while in Peru. For example, they will work with you to find out your needs – and budget – and then make sure it fits into the timeframe you have. If it works, they will also organise a Refugio Amazonas Stay, for the same price if you had booked directly with the company.
Other Amazon Rainforest Expeditions Lodges
Without a doubt, Rainforest Expeditions is one of the leading Amazon lodge operators in the Puerto Maldonado area, and with good reason. Established in 1989, the company has a strong focus on environmental conservation, and its jungle experiences are consistently exceptional.
There are three lodges to choose from. Aside from Refugio Amazonas, you could also opt for:
- Posada Amazonas: Owned in partnership with the Ese‑Eja Community of Infierno, this 30‑room lodge features open‑wall rooms, a 42m canopy tower, and access to clay‑licks, oxbow lakes, and cultural experiences. View on Booking.com here.
- Tambopata Research Center: A remote, research-focused ecolodge deep in the Tambopata National Reserve. It has raised walkways, clay-lick visits, and you’ll have the opportunity to support scientific conservation projects. View on Booking.com here.
These lodges, plus more incredible options, are featured in detail in the Peruvian Amazon Lodges guide.
How to Plan Your Trip to Peru with Kids
Planning a family trip to Peru doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right itinerary, you can dive into fun jungle adventures while still having enough downtime to recharge. The aim is to create a trip where the little ones stay happy, and you get to enjoy yourself, too.
Having lived in and traveled extensively throughout Peru, we have lots of experience with traveling in this part of the world. Whether you are planning an Amazon holiday or a family trip to Peru, we have you covered.
Read how to plan a Peru family holiday (UK/Aus) or discover how to plan your Peru family vacation (from the US and elsewhere)
One of the easiest ways to keep everything running smoothly is to book through a trusted local operator that truly understands the safety in South America and what families need on the ground. In this case, I’d highly recommend Apus Peru. They specialise in small, meaningful, community-focused trips and know how to tailor experiences for families.
If you want a trip that covers Peru’s most iconic sites while giving you plenty of nature and wildlife encounters, check out their “Wonders of the World – Amazon Jungle & Machu Picchu” 10-day tour. It’s designed to help you experience the very best of Peru without the stress of planning every detail yourself. With this tour, you get to see the Amazon tropical rainforest and the Andes in one trip.
If you’re looking for a ready-made plan, take a look at our 2-week Peru itinerary that covers both the Amazon and Machu Picchu. Once you’ve planned your trip, make sure you also look at our Peru packing list!
Verdict: Is Refugio Amazonas the Best Jungle Tour for Kids?
As I wrap up this Refugio Amazonas Lodge Review, it’s clear that this lodge should be your top pick if you are traveling with children, as it offers a variety of kid-friendly, adventure-focused, and science activities. There is even an opportunity to contribute to science or discover new species at the headquarters of their Citizen Science Program, Wired Amazon.
We believe that you can plan a successful Amazon rainforest vacation with a little bit of help from people who have visited before. This was certainly the case in our choosing of the Refugio Amazonas lodge. There are also a range of travel agencies such as Apus Peru that can provide advice on how to pick a Peru jungle lodge that suits you and your kids’ needs.
Find prices and availability for your dates here >>>
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Would you recommend doing the Peruvian Amazon and Cusco/Macchu Picchu in mid to late November? Thank you for your response!
Hi Laura, November is a tricky month to travel to Cusco/Machu Picchu. It’s the start of the wet season, so in some years you won’t have a lot of rain and its green, pleasant and without the crowds. On the other hand, it could rain a lot, particularly the closer you get to December. I generally say, the earlier in November the better. If you don’t mind some showers and less tourists, then I think its a good time to visit. Its not as cold and the mountains are usually beautiful and green vs the brown yellow color you see in the dry, clear months when its cold and there is no rain. In regards to the Amazon, its also the start of the rainy season, which means hotter weather and less animals along ther river banks.. but more of other types of animals… there are really pros and cons. I’d google things like “what is Cusco like in November” to get rain statistics and to see if it will work for you.